She opens her eyes and yawns sleepily. It’s a new day. As she starts her morning routine she may indulge in a morning cup of coffee or tea as she thinks about what her day will entail. And she subconsciously prepares herself for the moments she cannot control, but endures anyway, because she is not seen as a normal human being, but a woman.
So she starts walking.
She gets to work. Her coworker touches her butt and makes a comment about her skirt in a joking manner. She knows if she comments back then she will be seen as the “typical woman” who can’t take a joke and won’t be invited to the work get-togethers anymore. But, laughing along and pretending she thought it was funny when it wasn’t just doesn’t seem right.
So she keeps walking.
On her lunch break she decides to go across the street. As she is minding her own business she hears honks, whistles, and catcalls. Men trying to start a conversation by complimenting her hair and her shoes, but she knows the true intentions of the lurking men.
So she keeps walking.
A long day at work is finally over and she gets a phone call from her friends. They all decide they need a girl’s night out tonight and plan on getting dinner and maybe going to a few bars. She returns home and gets ready, wearing something she feels good in, but not too sexy, because she was always taught not to try and attract the wrong attention.
So she keeps walking.
As the night goes on she overhears a few men talking about her breasts. Some comment on how she has a nice rack, while others say they prefer her ass. The conversation continues, as they pick apart her physical being and sexualize her as if she were an object. She decides to get up and leave. She says goodbye to her friends and walks out the door, still able to hear the vulgar men talking loudly at the bar.
So she keeps walking.
It’s dark out and she knows to always stay on the lit streets. She is by herself and the streets are empty with only the clicks of her heels to fill the silence. She walks, thinking back on her day until she notices someone is walking a short distance behind her. She takes a few back roads and a different route home because that is what she has been taught. She is frightened but tries her best not to show it.
So she keeps walking.
The man is persistent and she notices he is still behind her. She starts walking faster and faster and so does he.
She’s running.
The man catches up to her and grabs her by the hair. She screams and screams but she cannot fight him off. He pulls off her clothes and all she can do is cry. He leaves her lying on the ground alone and exposed. She is too frightened and embarrassed to report the incident.
So she keeps walking.
She finally makes it home and, after locking all the doors and windows, walks tiredly to the bathroom. She looks in the mirror and hates what she sees. She gets in the shower and washes her body not once, not twice, but three times. She still feels dirty, but it will have to do for tonight. She lies in bed and promises herself to follow the rules better next time. She will cover up more and keep her head down. She will remember that article she read once on what rapists look for in women and who they target. She will take a completely different route home. And tomorrow, through all the catcalls, whistles, and inappropriate jokes she knows exactly what she will do.
She will keep walking.
LET’S STOP TEACHING WOMEN HOW TO AVOID SEXUAL ASSAULT AND RAPE AND START TEACHING MEN HOW TO NOT BE RAPISTS.
